Advocate Editorial Board opinion: VC sessions help train workforce

Sept. 26, 2012 at 4:26 a.m.

TO LEARN MORE:

For more information about VC's Workforce and Continuing Education Department, call 361-582-2528.

There are several key ingredients to a thriving regional economy. Capital to spur construction and investment. Products and services that are essential to everyone. And a workforce that is educated and well-trained.

Without a properly trained and managed workforce, a business can crumble inside out. And eventually, that diminishes the degree to which a regional economy thrives.

That is why people - the most precious of all resources - must understand how to work together, how to achieve a common goal and, above all, how to respect each other along the way. That's why it is imperative educational institutions team up with area businesses to train people for success.

Such is the case with Victoria College's Workforce and Continuing Education Department and Huvar's Artisan Market. They have teamed up to offer a Lunch and Learn Series, which is designed to provide training to professionals - from those on the front line to the managers and supervisors behind the scenes.

Sherri Pall, the department's director at Victoria College, said, "We know business professionals find it difficult to juggle their work and find time for skills training, so we are taking the training to them in a lunch and learn format."

We think this partnership is an excellent idea.

The first of three sessions, "Essentials of Leadership and Conflict Resolution," conducted on Sept. 19, was a well-attended discussion about business relationships and team performance and productivity.

The next program on Oct. 10 is called "Lean Office" and will offer tips to increase productivity and reduce waste in administrative and office operations. Then on Nov. 7, the program will be a discussion about the American Heart Association's new "Hands-Only CPR Awareness Campaign." All the programs begin at noon at Huvar's Artisan Market, 110 W. Juan Linn St. The program is free, but participants are responsible for their own lunch expense.

We encourage the Crossroads community to take full advantage of this opportunity because the lessons learned can help fortify the success of our workforce.